Monday, July 24, 2006

Aid for Lebanon - Update

"We are concerned about the Lebanese people who require immediate humanitarian aid as a result of the current conflict. We will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to respond should further assistance be needed." said Minister Josée Verner

CIDA will immediately allocate $500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in response to its preliminary appeal. This funding will help to ease the plight of families in Lebanon who have been displaced by the fighting or trapped in villages isolated by destroyed road networks. The remaining $500,000 will be allocated in the coming days.

The Ontario government has put up $100,000. Let see the other provinces kick in as well.

Two convoys carrying generators for hospitals, food, tarpaulins and hygiene kits were heading from Beirut to Tyre and the southern city of Marjayoun, said Hisham Hassan, ICRC spokesman in Lebanon.

Aid was starting to move into Beirut's port after Israel opened it for humanitarian ships. An Italian warship brought food, medicine, tents, blankets, water, electrical generators and ambulances. A ferry carrying supplies from France also arrived.

Someone needs to explain to me how Lebanese Citizens can be dropped on canada's door step just because some visited Canada long enough to a Passport. I'm seeing far too many cases of Dual-Citizens dragging Canada into the Middle East conflict and trying to turn Canada against the only viable solid Democracy in that region.

If a flood hits Montreal does that mean the Lebanese can board airplane and flee back to Lebanon? I remember an Italian friend of mine telling me about Trudeau touring the Italian Community for votes and he chamged the rules for the CPP so retired Immigrants from Italy could go back home and have the pension sent out of Canada and back to their homeland. This never reached the media , and I fear that every dual-Citizen over 65 will demand some retirement garantee or return only when medical costs can be dumped on the taxpayers within Canada.

Donate all the money you want to Lebanon. I hope you also get permission from Lebanons next door neighbour to deliver it. That would be like me buying you an expensive Christmas gift and your neighbour not letting you get it. In case you have forgotten... Israel has a blockaid against all aid coming in.

It's disgusting to read that some canadians don't have an ounce of mercy for the lebanese people. 1/3 of the population support hezbollah, what about the innocent people and children killed by missiles and burned with the chemicals they put inside.

Dear friend, I am a recent emigrant to Canada and I learnt to defend my rights, those by the way are your rights too. I'm ignorant of what Trudeau "promised" to Italian emigrants and one should be quite skeptical with politician’s promises, but I don't have to teach you this rule of thumb..

What I do know is that CPP is a result of _contributions_ one makes: 1. while employed - the contribution is retained automatically; 2. out of his pocket if one who is not employed but whishes to.

Now comes the interesting part. Do you think that a Canadian is entitled to his/hers CPP? I take that as yes. If you, the real Canadian, decides to live your last years in Venezuela (don't get me wrong I choose this one just because it's warm down there, you can pick Florida if you want) will you give up your right and send a letter surrendering your CPP to mini Bush (present PM)? I guess not, you need refreshments now! Why is that? Because pension (CPP) is coming from your contributions made while in Canada, not from a citizenship right. So dear friend, anyone who made contributions is entitled to CPP no matter where that person lives. Lastly, in order to amaze you get this: my mother who came with me receives pension from the country we’ve came from. Hard to believe, isn't it, but this is how things works.